Oct. 23rd Legend cruise, the worst

[beachgal58]

Thank God we booked extra days on the beach, just returned home from the worst cruise we have been on. Carnival made a decision to steer her right down to where Rina was brewing. I knew the storm was there, so did Carnival. Departure on Sun, sea day on Mon.

 

We watched the storm progress on tv, even had a hurricane tracker in the lobby, Waited and waited to hear the announcement of re-routing and changing our ports to the Eastern. Nope..Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Gr Cayman...We went to Belize first, sign stating the Nor. Star had canceled this port. duh. Water excursions were canceled of course, that cannot be helped when a hurricane is brewing. We found an internet cafe to let our family know we were alive and the captain made the decision to steer the Legend between the outer bands of the Cat 2 hurricane and the coast.

 

North to Cozumel, we must outrun the hurricane! Instead of departing at 5pm, we were to leave at 3:30 to get ahead of the storm. All water excursion canceled, the sprinkling of rain made even a beach day out, it was overcast, geeee a hurricane.. walked around about 30 min and back to ship. We heard the rumors that a lady lost her life, scooter accident, how sad. The ship did not depart until 4:30 b/c of this horrible tragedy. The Triumph got out of dodge before us.

I asked a few pax, "have you seen any other cruise lines down here?" Nope. Just Carnival. hmmmm

 

Of course there was no way they were taking us to Roatan/Gr Cayman, but we were to stop at Progresso. What a dump this is! We booked a beach at your lesiure through the ship due to the fact we had never been to this port. $50 @, 3 hrs of open bar, kayaks, floats, showers w/ option of AI.

The kid told us there was seaweed and not snorkeling water, we could back out. Good grief, we are beach bums, we book a cruise according to our interest and this aint it! They were raking the seaweed into piles in front of the lounge chairs, what an odor! I am guessing there were 3-4 kayaks already in use, maybe 8-9 floats, orderd a drink 3 times, finally went up to wait in line to get it. Bees all over from the sweet ingredients used for drinks and sodas.

 

We left early, a bus was going to leave so we begged to get on it after we used the SHOWERS. What a joke, the ones by the wading pool did not work, the guy told us to use the ones by the johns. Fine, oh, they dont work either! One had the bottom part where you rinse feet, a little trickle.

 

I went to guest services to tell them what I thought, a lady called our room and gave us 20% off, $20 off of $100 for a trip that should have been about $20. Thus kid at guest services said he thought the captain made a good choice in sending our ship to this area! I forgot they get paid no matter where they take us.

 

We departed Progresso at 5pm Thurs..at sea Fri and Sat...they slowed her down to 8-9 knots!!! I am so angry, they could have made arrangements to take this ship to the eastern before we even left port. Or I kept telling my husband they will probably stop at Key West. Nope. Sit on ths ship for 2 1/2 more days. We sat in the cabin and slept and watched tv.

This was our 9th cruise with Carnival, sailed the Glory a few yrs ago while hurricane Wilma was stirring up the gulf..We were re-routed to Nassau, SJ, and St, Thomas, its hurricane season, fully understandable. It was fine. But this was uncalled for. I understand the cruise that left the day we returned was re-routed!! We sure got the shaft!

 

I am glad some people had a good time, we did not. The planning, plane tickets, hotels, parking, cruise costs, my husband just finished chemo, looked forward to his cruise, this is how Carnival treats loyal customers. We looked at other lines, how I wish we would have taken one of them.

 

Heck, they didnt even have many bingo sessions, the last nt they offered it at 9:15. Late dining brain surgeons, think about it. We heard others talking about how bad the talent was pertaining to the shows, we only went to one comedy show, no kidding, 20 yr old jokes with a ventriloquist. Even the casino had old machines, many penny ones with buttons wore off. Had to wait for a seat at the one and only let it ride table every nt, only 1 3 card table. Never did get anything from the Players club either.

 

I know they have made cutbacks, lol I asked for a deck of cards in the casino, maybe we can play rummy in the cabin, they now charge a dollar. A poor lady in front of me at guest services was so sick, they charged her $3 for a few dramimine.

I usually report all good things on my reviews, sorry, we did have a few good meals in the dining room thats the extent of it. The slop on the lido buffet...it was horrible. B, L, D no kididng, we are not picky eaters at all. Many days, we had a bowl of fruit, sweetest grapes we had ever eaten.

The deli was fine, thank God! One day some folks were digging into an area of one of the buffet chow. Hotdogs, fries and little corn on the cobs, hey Ill try it. A gal said oh you cant eat off this buffet its reserved for camp carnival. Put up a sign kiddo, there r people eating it. I said why am I not surprised? I told my husband, look around, I dont think there is anyone over 25 yrs old besides the captain working on this ship. Any of them for that matter.

 

The serenity deck is nice, after we watched a kid spitting in the midship pool and snot hanging out of his nose and going into the pool, I amnot kidding, it was gross. Everyone got out of the pool except him and the 3 little girls he was with. No parent around.

Hot tub, pool,m back and forth, not one other person in either one. We went back to serenity to try a shot at an open lounger. I get really mad at the pax that leave their junk on a chair, if it is there for awhile, it goes on the deck. We watched as they would leave for hrs at a time and return only to gather there junk to go leave.

Just dont want anyone else to have the chair. Greedy. Of course the kids slide is right behind the serenity, it is very nice back there, but you do hear kids screaming.

Not as bad as the other 2 pools though. Just have to sit on wet chairs, kinda nasty as they have cushions that cannot be flipped over. and pillows that other peeps have been sleeping and slobbering on all day, day after day. EEWWW.

We were so glad to get off that ship, 4 days at Indain Rocks Beach was heaven! My letter to Carnival goes out tomorrow. All they would have had to do was find a few ports, like Half Moon which they own! Drop the damn anchor for a few days!!

 

Really a horrible cruise in our opinion, we know all about hurricane season, not the issue at all, its the fact that this low class cruise line did not change the route b4 we left. We have dealt with boring ships several times, but the ports make up for all that. Shame on you Carnival, glad the cruise behind us got to go to the eastern, maybe they are having the time of their lives.

Cindy

[cruise_pirate]

Chin up better days are a comin':p Sounds as if your cruise was better than my last week at work....

[agc291]

Just so you know this thread will end up locked like the other person on your cruise who posted their rant yesterday.

 

3/4 of your "review" was weather related. Carnival doesnt control the weather, dont cruise during hurricane season. No brainer stuff. They cant just "drop anchor" for a few days at HMC, HAL has rights above CCL and can even knock a planned CCL ship off the schedule there. Im sure they didnt have too many options for an Eastern route they werent just trying to make your trip horrible.

[MsTabbyKats]

Wow...a hurricane during hurricane season!

 

Seaweed on the beach (you were warned)....and bees!

 

Did you ever think that docks at other ports were already booked?

[Laurie S.]

Pretty darn silly all the way around.

[CWcruisers]

Now I know why, after 54 cruises, I have never even put a toenail into a cruise ship pool. Thanks for reafirming my decision.

 

Sorry your cruise was a disappointment. Sounds like you were ready to roll with the punches but they were punching you pretty hard.

[zqvol]

Me thinks this is the same poster.

[IwannaGo Now]

Better get your asbestos suit ready......:eek:

[StingRaysfan]

Just my opinion but from what I've heard it's really hard to just CHANGE to an eastern itinerary at the last minute. Agreements with ports, other ships there etc. A port like Progresso which doesn't get much action is probably much easier to divert too... Plus people on that cruise booked a western itinerary and I'm sure there would have been people on this ship that would have been upset because "the only reason they booked this cruise was for Belize" and "the only reason they booked this cruise was for Cozumel"..... you can't make everyone happy all the time..

 

Carnival gave you most of your cruise ports that you got at a lower rate because of Hurricane season. Sorry the weather didn't go your way. I've only been on one cruise during hurricane season and I sweated it out the entire time beforehand... I got lucky, but you didn't.... now you know the risks of booking during Hurricae season though and you can make better decisions for future cruises...

[xillbu]

Yawn........................

[firefly333]

I dont know .. but they might not have had room to dock more ships in the eastern ports. they might have had the choice to do a cruise to nowhere or do what ports they could.

 

To be upset that they didnt choose eastern, when you dont know if this was even a choice seems a little unreasonable. .. but I have been there myself. My one BAD cruise on Carnival was due to Ike and how they handled it.

[ray98]

Its hurricane season. I always assumed people understood the risk given the reward of much lower prices.

[beachbum6264]

Yep, I know about cruising during hurricane season... check all the changes we've had. Most likely all the eastern ports were full - they can't just shove another ship in when they are full. We always (well, that really means I always!!!) check out the possible re-routing ports... just in case. It's come in handy more than once, believe me. Sorry you were disappointed in your cruise, but you did get what you paid for... a 7 day cruise.

 

ETA: Glad you enjoyed Indian Rocks Beach, tho! I grew up there.... miss it every day. Sunsets just aren't the same if the Gulf of Mexico is not under them.

[kbmeow]

if you are beach people why didn't yo hang by the pool on port days? And A ship has to get permission to port. So they can not just go somewhere because it is more convenient they have to get permission to go there

[Heirloom]

Well........this IS named Cruise Critic, so can't blame writer ! Let Carnival have it !

 

Just glad this hurricane thing hasn't happened to us.....we actually did cruise at least once in October with good luck.......sorry others (a distinct minority of cruisers) got bad luck on the scheduling lottery !

 

Vacations are important........and Carnival DOES want customers to return......so I always believe they do their best to please.

 

Still IMHO, easily the greatest vacation bargain in the world. Better luck next time.

[The4Cruisers]

I'll tell you what OP... If CCL twisted up my Western itinerary and took me to Key West and Nassau instead, I'd have a freakin' cow!

 

But then I'd realize that the cruise line met its obligations and was trying to provide us a nice vacation, regardless of my personal opinion.

 

Besides, I LIKE Progreso. You can have fun in that little port!

 

Oh well, didn't mean to rain on your personal pity party. Carry on. ;)

[DTXCruiser]

I'm not going to flame you....but surely you don't consider this your "review" of the cruise? You didn't title it as such....but just making sure.

 

I would LOVE to read a TRUE review. You know...some critiques, some valid points, etc....about THE CRUISE.

 

The bulk of your "issue" concerns the ports and port activities. That's not fair. As you state, you are aware of the dangers of sailing during hurricane season.....but are you really??

 

As far as the gross kid at the pool and the wet cushions....sounds gross, but I know, for a fact, that it is not the grossest thing to happen on a ship! I try not to think of all the "gross" things that occur in ANY public setting...not to mention a cruise ship that carries thousands and thousands of folks monthly!

 

Finally....the primary reason I chose to post. I was on Triumph at the same time (I saw your ship and your PAX's) I also heard about the killed passenger......the news made me appreciate my cruise that much more! I am shocked to hear that you are aware of the death, but still complain about things like seaweed on a beach! May you never have a true disaster in your life!

[SE NC]

OP...have you written Cahill a letter DEMANDING your money back?!? If not.....why not!!!:p

[MissKIA]

Make sure you make that letter to Carnival short and to the point! Oh, and use Bullets! ;)

 

Seriously, sorry you had a bad time. This is why I wouldn't consider a cruise (or any Caribbean vacation) during hurricane season.

[big_duck]

Yes, the Legend was the only ship sailing in the Caribbean that week and had their pick of what ports they could go to.

 

However, they chose this route just to inconvenience you.

 

:rolleyes:

[Kidsgoneletscruise]

Chin up better days are a comin':p Sounds as if your cruise was better than my last week at work....

 

Ha! I always say even a bad day on a cruise beats a good day at work. ;)

[amichel]

Me thinks this is the same poster.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[rtw68]

I'm seeing a pattern in these first posts. Interesting.... :confused:

 

Gosh, makes me want to cancel my upcoming cruise and NEVER cruise with Carnival again. :rolleyes:

 

Obviously, any other cruise line would have had better control over the weather and OP's "reasonable" expectations. :eek:

 

Ok, I'll bite, was there ANYTHING about the cruise that was positive? :D

[MissKIA]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

Every complaint I have read about this cruise keeps stressing that they had nothing to do "for 2 1/2 days". Not 2 days, not 3 days. Two and a half, every time. Hmmmm...

[partygirl43]

Call the Whaaaaaa-umbulance!!!!!!!!!